2021

Iron pipes, rubber balloon, fastening straps

Under Pressure is a light and sound installation. It consists of 8 exercising figures with their heads squeezed in fastening straps. The artwork reflects the topic of stress and work pressure, which society tries to fix with exercising, for example with modern yoga, but ignores the systematic solutions to prevent burn-out. The series points to the contrast between a society that has embarked on the trend of a healthy lifestyle and a society that is struggling with mental health problems. Author offers ironic commentary on an individual who is looking for harmony in physical activity, while his motivation is to cope with work stress, anxiety and psychological pressure – emphasizing the need to set the overall pace of our lives in a healthier way. From a certain point on, it is no longer enough to “practice” (yoga) twice a week. The author deals with the topic of burnout and the art work can be read based on his personal experience. In the current “corona” age, however, each viewer can attach their own story of the search for mental balance to each of the figures.

The author of the technical solution and programming: Rastislav Rehák